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CCN's 5 Point Program


National Revitalization

Population Stabilization

Immigration Reduction

Economic Sustainability

Resource Conservation

 

WHAT IS CARRYING CAPACITY?

A common fallacy is to equate existing and seemingly open or "unused" spaces with the kind of resources and ecologically productive land needed to support human life under modern conditions. In fact, the criterion for determining whether a region is overpopulated is not land area, but carrying capacity.

Carrying capacity refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within natural resource limits, and without degrading the natural social, cultural and economic environment for present and future generations. The carrying capacity for any given area is not fixed. It can be altered by improved technology, but mostly it is changed for the worse by pressures which accompany a population increase. As the environment is degraded, carrying capacity actually shrinks, leaving the environment no longer able to support even the number of people who could formerly have lived in the area on a sustainable basis. No population can live beyond the environment's carrying capacity for very long.

The average American's "ecological footprint" (the demands an individual endowed with average amounts of resources, ie, land, water, food, fiber, waste assimilation and disposal, etc. puts on the environment) is about 12 acres, an area far greater than that taken up by one's residence and place of school or work and other places where he or she is.

We must think in terms of "carrying capacity" not land area. The effects of unfettered population growth drastically reduce the carrying capacity in the United States.

What is Carrying Capacity Network?

Carrying Capacity Network confronts the controversial issues, makes the difficult choices, and adopts the innovative approaches necessary to meet the challenges facing our nation. CCN's action-oriented initiatives focus on achieving national revitalization, population stabilization, immigration reduction, economic sustainability, and resource conservation.

A commitment to action to solve our nation's problems: Through CCN, action-oriented initatives combine the realistic perspectives, targeted solutions, sound information, and effective advocacy tools that get results by coordinating actions to solve key national problems.

A stronger voice in shaping national policy: Working together through Network, individual activists, grassroots groups, and national organizations increase effectiveness by integrating their diverse issues within CCN's unifying carrying capacity initiatives.

Information and analysis: CCN publications provide the focus, facts, and analysis essential to defining realistic solutions and effectively working to implement them on the national, state, and local levels. With our e-mail, and fax Action Alert system, CCN offers its members the information and tools necessary to facilitate effective action.

 

Network policy goals:

  • National Revitalization attained through fostering education, family, community self-reliance, tradition, and national unity.

  • Population Stabilization as soon as possible, provides the foundation for solving all other problems.

  • Immigration Reduction achieved through an immediate moratorium and eventual all-inclusive cap of 100,000 per year is the key to stopping U.S. population growth.

  • Sustainable Economic Activity is based on achieving a stable population, balanced budgets, employment stability, and conservation of resources.

  • Resource Conservation including land, energy, and water, provides the basis for a healthy environment and sustainable economy.

CCN is a group of activists working to promote and conserve what's right with America and to eliminate what's wrong with America. Most of America's main problems - from traffic, to classroom crowding, to pollution, depletion, welfare dependency, increasing taxes, and cultural fragmentation, have deep roots in our unsustainable population growth. Because of that, CCN focuses on stabilizing our population. We are even willing to face the awkward demographic fact that immigration is the cause of most of our recent growth (at current rates, immigration will cause about 80% of our growth as we double in an estimated 50 years or so).

CCN simply wants to conserve the best of America - before it's developed, overrun, consumed, and polluted by runaway population growth. It's not too late, and we hope that you will join us in this effort.

 

Contacting CCN:

ISSN 1066-5404

 

The CCN Editorial Policy:

While Carrying Capacity Network endeavors to make sure that all materials contained in our publications are accurate, CCN is not responsible for the reliability of information submitted for publication. CCN does not sanction or endorse any views, policies, or activities of groups or individuals, including members of CCN, except as may be explicitly indicated. CCN will assume that when information is submitted, permission is thereby granted to edit and provide context before dissemination. Due to the volume of submissions, CCN cannot guarantee that any particular item will be included or that it will be included in its entirety. CCN will, however, always endeavor to properly credit sources.

 

 

 

 



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National Board of Advisors

Virginia Abernethy
Nicolaas Bloembergen
William Catton, Jr.
Marisa Hsia Chang
Robert Costanza
Brock Evans
William Frey
Robert Kaufmann
Thomas E. Lovejoy
Dan Morris
Frank L. Morris, Sr.
Nancy Sue Pearlman
Marcia Pimentel
William E. Rees
Claudine Schneider
Alan Tonelson
Walter Youngquist